RUTH’S TORIES ON THE WARPATH
Tactically voting for us can oust SNP, says Davidson
Deputy Scottish Political Editor RUTH Davidson has urged tactical voters to back the Conservatives at the ballot box, claiming it is the only way to get rid of the SNP.
Speaking yesterday, the Scottish Tory leader also revealed she will set her sights on ousting such Nationalist heavyweights as SNP deputy leader Angus Robertson and Pete Wishart.
But despite her popularity within the Conservative Party, Miss Davidson ruled herself out of standing as an MP – insisting her goal is to be Scotland’s next First Minister.
The Edinburgh Central MSP was speaking as she launched her party’s local election manifesto.
Miss Davidson said: ‘It’s certainly the case that we are the strongest party to take on the SNP and I know that there was a lot of talk a couple of years ago at the General Election about tactical voting and all the rest of it, and I have never been a particular proponent of it.
‘But I think if you do believe in tactical voting and your principal belief (is in) keeping the United Kingdom together and respecting the decision that we made in 2014, actually your vote is for the Scottish Conservatives. You have got a Labour leader in Jeremy Corbyn who says he would be quite happy to let another referendum happen, the Lib Dems just aren’t strong enough.
‘It is very much a case of if you are not supporting the SNP and you want somebody to stop their drive to break up Scotland then the Scottish Conservatives are your best bet.’
Miss Davidson is confident her party will win seats from the SNP. Key target areas include the Scottish Borders and the North-East, where the Tories performed well in the 2016 Holyrood elections. Moray, currently held by SNP Westminster leader Mr Robertson, is among the seats she thinks could change hands.
He had a majority of more than 9,000 in 2015, but the Tory vote in the constituency rose considerably. There was also large support for Brexit in the European referendum. Miss Davidson said: ‘If you are talking about Angus Robertson, if the argument and the line from the SNP at this election is going to be talking about Brexit as much as they can, well... 49.6 per cent of his seat voted to leave.’
The party will also target the Perth and North Perthshire seat held by Mr Wishart.
Miss Davidson said: ‘My strong prediction, and I seldom make predictions, is there is no way the SNP is getting 56 (seats) this time, not if I’ve got anything to do with it.’
She added that people were ‘absolutely furious’ that their Remain votes had been adopted as proxy votes for independence.
The Tory leader said that a number of her MSPs were likely to stand for Westminster. It has been suggested that chief whip John Lamont, justice spokesman Douglas Ross and MSP Finlay Carson will be among them. Miss Davidson said: ‘I am here for the long haul in the Scottish parliament, I want to be the next First Minister of Scotland.
‘I want to turn what is a very strong opposition in Scotland, and we are showing ourselves as a very strong opposition, into a government in waiting in Scotland, and I’ve got four years to do that.’
The Tory leader also claimed a larger majority for the Prime Minister would give Mrs May ‘the freedom to make decisions in the best interests of the country without having to pay a penalty in terms of people either within or outside the Conservative Party trying to put undue pressure on her’.
A Scottish Labour spokesman said: ‘In constituencies across Scotland, it is only Labour that can stop the SNP.
‘If voters want to stop the SNP and its plans for a divisive second independence referendum, their only option is to vote for Labour.’
An SNP spokesman said: ‘While the SNP campaigns on a positive vision of improving schools, building affordable homes and transforming childcare, the Tories have nothing to offer other than a preoccupation with independence – and this latest call for tactical voting to try to keep the SNP out is a sign of desperation.’